Maracuja Oil (Passion Fruit Oil): What It Is, Benefits for Skin, Hair and How to Use It

Maracuja oil is extracted from the seeds of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and it has many benefits for your skin and hair. Maracuja oil is also called passion fruit oil, maracuya oil, Passiflora oil, or Passiflora edulis oil. It is said that maracuja oil is good for dry skin conditions, reducing inflammation, smoothing fine lines, and protecting your skin from sun damage.

Maracuja oil benefits your skin and hair because of its high content of the free fatty acids linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Although few studies have been done on maracuja oil, plenty of research show that these fatty acids promote good skin and scalp health. The benefits of maracuja oil also come from its antioxidants that help to enhance skin health.

Advertisement

In this article, you will learn about the many benefits of maracuja oil and how to use it on your skin and hair. You will also find out about any scientific research that highlights the benefits of maracuja oil.

What is Maracuja Oil (Passion Fruit Oil)?

Maracuja oil is the name given to oil extracted from the seeds of the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis).

Research has shown that Passiflora edulis seed oil contains two essential fatty acids that are good for your skin. The main benefits of passion fruit seed oil come from its two essential fatty acids: linoleic acid and linolenic acid. (1)

Other studies about the skin benefits of maracuja oil found that oil pressed from passion fruit seeds has an important use in cosmetics due to its antioxidant content. (2)

Passion fruits grow in warm climates and are prized for their healing benefits. Passion fruit is packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and other healthy nutrients. One study found that consumption of passion fruit seed extracts is also good for your skin. (3)

However, in this article, we will focus on the benefits of applying passion fruit oil to your skin and hair.

What is Maracuja Oil Used for?

Maracuja oil is a good oil to help keep your skin in good health. The cold pressed oil is quite expensive and you only need to use a little on your skin to get its benefits.

Advertisement

One study found that Passiflora edulis oil is rich in antioxidants. These are free radical scavengers that help to prevent DNA damage in skin tissue. Studies have shown that topical antioxidants can help to protect the skin against photoaging. This is premature aging of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. (4, 5)

You can also use maracuja oil to help keep your skin well moisturized. The seed oil extracted from passion fruit is touted to have excellent emollient properties that help lock in moisture in your skin.

Maracuja Oil Benefits and How to Use it

Let’s look in more detail at the many reasons to use maracuja oil as part of your regular skincare routine.

Maracuja Oil is Good for Dry Skin

Using maracuja oil on your skin is good to help keep your skin hydrated and well moisturized.

The reason why maracuja oil benefits dry skin conditions is because it contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. Studies have shown that applying moisturizers containing linoleic acid can help address issues of dry skin. (6, 7)

Some people are sensitive to maracuja oil and so it’s always a good idea to do a skin patch test first. If you have no reaction, then you can use maracuja oil to soothe and moisturize dry skin.

Tarte maracuja oil is one of the most popular brands of passion fruit oil. People claim that this oil is absorbed quickly into your skin and doesn’t feel greasy. Maracuja oil should be suitable for all skin types.

To use maracuja oil as a skin moisturizer, put a few drops on your palms and gently rub the oil into dry patches of skin.

If you need to moisturize a larger area of skin, you can mix passion fruit oil with a carrier oil of your choice. You could mix 4 drops of maracuja oil with a tablespoon of sweet almond oil, for example, and apply to dry skin to nourish and soothe it.

You could also put a few drops of hydrating maracuja oil in your favorite moisturizer to help improve your skin condition.

Maracuja Oil Could Treat Eczema, Psoriasis, and Skin Inflammation

Using maracuja oil may help your skin if you suffer from inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

Advertisement

There is some evidence to suggest that oils high in linoleic acid such as maracuja oil can be useful in treating atopic dermatitis (eczema). Linoleic acid helps to improve the skin barrier and reduce the severity of dermatitis. (7)

To help relieve itchy patches of dry flaky skin, you could use Passiflora edulis seed oil with other oils that have a proven effect in treating dermatitis. For example, the journal Dermatitis reported that coconut oil is an effective emollient to treat dermatitis. The antibacterial effect of coconut oil also helps prevent secondary skin infections. (8)

Mix a few drops of maracuja oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Apply the home remedy 3 times a day to soothe irritated skin caused by eczema or psoriasis.

Maracuja Oil May Help Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Applying maracuja oil to your face can help to prevent some of the visible signs of aging.

There is some indirect evidence that oil pressed from passion fruit can help with fine lines. Studies have shown that maracuja oil is a good source of antioxidants that are necessary for skin health. (4)

Research has also found that passion fruit oil contains tocopherol which has vitamin E activity. (9) Some studies indicate that vitamin E is helpful in protecting the skin from damage and the effects of photoaging. (10)

To help smooth fine lines, apply a drop or two of maracuja oil to the area of skin under your eyes. Use 2-3 times a day regularly to help prevent the signs of aging. For the whole facial area simply put a few drops of the maracuja oil on your palms and gently rub into your facial skin.

Some people like to add some drops of maracuja oil to carrier oils that are good to use as a facial moisturizers, such as jojoba oil, rosehip oil or argan oil. Try to experiment with different blends to find your favorite mix.

Maracuja Oil Helps Protect Skin from Sun Damage

Because maracuja oil contains antioxidants, it is a good oil to use to prevent DNA damage to skin cells caused by the sun.

It seems that some of the protection maracuja oil has for your skin comes from beta-carotene. Studies have shown that passion fruit oil has antioxidant activity because it contains carotenoids, polyphenols and tocopherols. These are antioxidants that have a positive effect on skin health. (6)

Research has found that beta-carotene is an essential element to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight. One study found that applying topical treatments containing beta-carotene may have a protective effect on the skin against sun radiation. B-carotene helped to prevent free radicals causing damage to skin cells. (11)

The American Academy of Dermatology reports that wrinkles, loose skin, spider veins, or age spots are all signs of sun-damaged skin. (12)

Of course, it is important to regularly apply sunscreen with a high SPF to prevent skin damage caused by UVA or UVB radiation.

To help improve the health of your skin, apply a few drops of passion fruit oil directly to your face. Or, you could add 3 or 4 drops of maracuja oil to a tablespoon of jojoba oil or other carrier oil. Apply the maracuja remedy to your face, neck, and back of your hands in the morning and at night to help improve your skin condition.

Maracuja Oil for Acne

There is no research that backs up the anecdotal evidence for maracuja being a good anti-acne oil. Some people claim that regularly applying maracuja oil to acne-prone skin helps cut down sebum production and reduce breakouts. However, it seems that maracuja oil tends to cause acne breakouts in other people.

Advertisement

To use maracuja oil for acne, it is best to try it out on a small area first. This will help you see if this seed oil has any benefits to your skin in stopping acne.

If you think the oil will be good for preventing breakouts, then the best way to use maracuja oil for acne is to add a few drops of tea tree oil. Studies have shown that tea tree oil has an antibacterial effect and it reduces skin redness. One study found that tea tree oil was 3.5 times better than placebo in getting rid of pimples. (13)

Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to a teaspoon of maracuja oil to use as an acne treatment. Apply sparingly to acne prone skin 2 times a day as this may reduce the number of pimples on your skin.

Maracuja Oil for Your Scalp and Hair

Although many studies highlight its good antioxidant potential, there are no studies on how maracuja oil promotes good scalp health.

If you want to try using maracuja oil for your hair, put a few drops on your palms and massage the oil into your scalp. Leave the oil to penetrate your hair roots for 10 minutes then wash your hair as usual.

If you have dry hair with split ends, apply a few drops of maracuja oil to the ends of your hair after showering and towel drying your hair.

Make a maracuja oil hair mask by combining 1 tbsp. of castor oil, 1 tbsp. avocado oil, 3-4 drops rosemary or peppermint oil, and a few drops of maracuja oil. Massage the homemade hair mask into your scalp and leave for 2 hours before washing out. Repeat 2 times a week for best results.

Another way to use maracuja oil on your hair is to mix it with antifungal tea tree oil to help get rid of dandruff. Mix 4 drops of tea tree oil and a few drops of maracuja oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Massage the passion fruit oil remedy into your scalp, leave for 30 minutes, then rinse out with your favorite shampoo. Repeat 3 times a week to help get rid of dandruff naturally.

Precautions

Because there are few studies on the topical use of maracuja oil for improving skin health, there are no reported side effects.

As with using any kind of oil on your skin, including maracuja oil, it is always advisable to do a small skin test patch. Put a drop of maracuja oil on your skin and see if there are any adverse reactions within a day or two.

Where to Buy Maracuja Oil

For most people, the easiest place to find maracuja oil is at online stores such as this one. To search for maracuja oil products, you can look for Tarte maracuja oil, Passiflora oil, passionfruit seed oil, or passion fruit oil.

Many health stores and natural food stores also stock good quality pure organic maracuja oil for skin and hair use.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Join Our 2 Million Fans

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

At Healthy and Natural World, our mission is to empower people to take control of their own health by providing comprehensive, practical and well researched information.

Our articles are based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. We strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.

Our articles contain scientific references which are numbered. Some of the references are clickable and some are found at the end of the article in the references section. The references are clickable and linked to peer-reviewed scientific papers or authority medical sites.

Our content does not constitute a medical consultation. If you have a medical problem you should seek advice from a doctor and other health care professional. For additional information please see our Full Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.